The Moons of Jupiter

Everything I need to know I learned from the 2nd grade camping trip this weekend. To wit: that periods come at the most unexpected time and in the most inconvenient places – 30 miles down a dark country road and 45 minutes from the nearest drug store.

That chocolate helps most situations and s'mores even more so.

That though adults cannot see in the dark, 7 year-olds apparently can; and, like bats they will run around apparently using echolocation and not hurt themselves.

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That it is best to walk away and not tell your spouse that he is setting up camp in a way not to your liking.

That it is best to let your spouse do all camping-related chores, such as cooking over an open fire because he really is better at it.

That it is OK to tell another kid not to kick your child.

That it is OK to tell that kid's brother not to hit other kids with your badminton racket.

That it makes even more sense to take the badminton racket away when he continues to swing at other kids' heads.

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That other parents have different parenting styles.

That eating outdoors is more fun when there is a pot luck and too much food.

That Jupiter is the brightest light in the sky right now, and that thanks to another parent who is an astronomer and who brought her telescope, you got to see four of Jupiter's moons lined up in a row – the same view that Galileo saw over 300 years ago.

That seeing Jupiter makes you realize how lucky you are to be alive and live where you do on your street, in your town, county, state, country, continent, earth, Milky Way, universe (so the 7 year-olds recount from their science lesson).

That all the little things that bother you are really small in comparison to the moons of Jupiter.

That it's fun to whisper to your spouse at night and that you're glad you didn't pick a fight, though you felt like it because you didn't think he was being sympathetic enough when you told him about the first thing on this list.